WASHINGTON -Republicans extended their decade-long hold on the House for another two years and seemed likely to slightly expand their majority, knocking off four veteran Texas Democrats along the way.
Among their few setbacks was the defeat of the longest serving GOP member of the chamber, Rep. Phil Crane of Illinois.
Yesterday's voting left Republicans ready to control the House for a dozen consecutive years, the first time they have achieved that feat since the 12 years that ended in January 1933. With the GOP also renewing its command of the Senate, the party was assured of reigning over Congress, though with narrow majorities that should allow Democrats to slow and even derail some Republican initiatives.
GOP leaders were jubilant. The two chambers' leaders, House Speaker Dennis Hastert, R-Ill., and Senate Majority Leader Bill Frist, R-Tenn., were already planning their agenda.
One of the first things that Senator Frist and I want to do ... is make sure that we can continue to supply better health care for the American people
said Hastert in an interview. Take care of those people who don't have it. Also work and make sure that we take care of our men and women who are fighting overseas and to make this country even stronger against terrorist attack.
By early Wednesday morning in the East, Republicans had won 226 seats and were leading in six others, which could give them at least 232 seats. That would be an effective three-seat gain for the GOP. Democrats had 197 seats and led in five.
There are 435 seats in the House, with 218 needed for majority control.
Republicans have a 227-205 advantage over Democrats in the outgoing House, plus two vacant seats formerly held by Republicans who have retired and one independent who sides with Democrats.
The failure of either party to make dramatic House gains underscored that the national debates over Iraq and the economy provided no decisive help to either side.
Months after Texas' dominant state Republicans redrew congressional district lines to the GOP's advantage, the fiercely disputed plan bore fruit and fueled the party's ability to hold its House majority. Among its chief architects were House Majority Leader Tom DeLay, R-Texas, himself easily re-elected.
Texas Democratic Reps. Charles Stenholm, a leading fiscal conservative and power on the Agriculture Committee, and Martin Frost, a one-time member of his party's leadership, were both defeated, as were Reps. Max Sandlin and Nick Lampson. The four had a total of 68 years of House experience.
Nick Clooney, former Cincinnati television anchor and father of actor George Clooney, lost his attempt to hold an open northeastern Kentucky seat for Democrats. He was beaten by GOP businessman Geoff Davis.
Democrats fared better in the well-to-do suburbs north of Chicago, where they defeated Crane, whose 35-year House career was the longest among the chamber's Republicans. The victor was Melissa Bean, who was born seven years before Crane entered the House and characterized him as out of touch with his district. 17
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